The ATS Issues Thread

We won't be going down that dark alley again... We are discussing the possibilities with the senior staff and whatever we end up with will be the
absolute last and final time we deal with this. (How many times have I said that?

)

Believe us when we say we KNOW it's an important topic, it's a topic that truly needs the attention of the astute and extremely observant
membership of ATS.

Sadly, every single attempt (and there have been many) in the past has ended up with the worst possible outcomes. It's not about "profits", it's
about sustainability... If the site loses its revenue then there is no site. Allowing one topic to destroy the ability of discussing and examining all
the others is simply ludicrous.

It's a monumental challenge for us to find a way that works and it's a challenge we are, once again, and for the last time, taking on.

As Bill said, with everything else on our plate at the moment we can't predict when we will have (or not have) a solution so patience is
requested.

Where ONLY trusted members (i.e one's who have proved that they are not trolls or time wasters) can discuss it maturely.

Newbies won't even see it, so you won't have to worry about 'stoner stories' and valued members will be less likely to cause trouble knowing that
this is a limited access area with privileges. Don't even mention it on the main boards, so nobody would know of its existence.

Maybe a password locked area?

Just a few constructive thoughts. I do appreciate the replies and discussion on this thread, it has put my mind at rest somewhat.

Take it easy mate no where in my post did I demand you roll out what ever you are working on straight away . I don't really see why you need to bite
my head off when all I am doing is trying to offer some encouragement and show a desire to avoid past failings .

Why not just create a special type of Thread where all new posts have to be approved (or refused) by a Mod before they make it into the actual
thread?

This way if you have say a thread about Hemp, if any stoner-trollz or corporate-schill-sockpuppet-identities come in and attempt to derail the thread,
their posts would get filtered out of the thread before anyone even sees them.......

Originally posted by mr-lizard
Incidentally why doesn't ATS consider a donation area, for upkeep of the site?

Our technology "upkeep" is rather significant, and growing now that we're on a rather sophisticated cluster of web and database servers, with a
high bandwidth content delivery network and third party tech firm keeping it all running smoothly. We currently service more bandwidth per-day than we
did for entire months in 2007. As a result, the typical donations received would not make much of a dent.

The most effective "donation" any member can make is their best efforts to post quality content.

Also, to add, in my experience with online communities (which dates back to the 1980's), donations from participants tends to create an unintentional
divide within the community between those who are able to provide funds and those who cannot. That potential scenario is not what ATS is about.

Originally posted by OzWeatherman
Does the number of posters in any way contribute to making profit?

First... that assumes there is profit.

Second... only in so far as new content is being generated. However, these days, actual traffic is about 90% non-members/guests, and they receive more
ads than logged-in members. So in reality, a fair guess is that about 96% of our monthly advertising income is from the people who come to see what
our members write. That's why I've always said the most effective "donation" is your best threads and posts.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord
However, please be aware (and reassured) that we are currently discussing this amongst ourselves (as of now, just the senior staff), and may allow
some discussions in this topic area in our "Really Above Top Secret" forum, or some other (yet to be named) limited access forum. I just can't
predict or promise a timeframe.

I hope we get this sorted out soon, I had one thread trashed some time agon and I have not made a new thread
this weak because I knew that it would have the same end.

I'm a little confused about this topic. I understand the TC re what subjects can and cannot be discussed, in this case (reading between the lines) it
seems to be about recreational drug use and threads about government trading in drugs that are de-railed by recreational drug users (stoners). Are we
saying that any thread that has the possibilty of de-railment due to its subject matter (ie government involvement in drug running) are banned ?

I ask because obviously we have the situation at the moment where a drug tzar has been sacked by the UK government and other scientists are walking
out in support. These news stories seem to be being sunk at the moment so obviously something else is going on in the background.

It is something i would like to discuss ( i posted these images on here a while ago www.flickr.com...www.flickr.com... as a tongue in cheek comment) and with the re-opening of the Lockerbie investigation into CIA drug
running and the drugs that were found after the crash this is quite obviously something that will, if allowed, be raising its head shortly. It's
going to be a big story here in the UK and i imagine will also include heroin production in Afganistan.

if i'm missing the point here somewhere then i apologise. Obviously i wont be starting any threads about lockerbie or the scientist sacking until you
either yay or nay it.

Ok I have another excessivly important issue to address. OK you can all cease and dissist immediatly what you are doing and pay attention.
My Peanut Butter Jelly Time is frozen, he doesn't dance anymore...does this happen for anyone else?

Originally posted by Wobbly Anomaly
I'm a little confused about this topic. I understand the TC re what subjects can and cannot be discussed, in this case (reading between the lines) it
seems to be about recreational drug use and threads about government trading in drugs that are de-railed by recreational drug users (stoners).

You've just about got the crux of it I think.

But the most important substance is actually hemp which is NOT actually a recreational drug, though its sister-plant is.

And as is the way of many things on ATS, the "stoner-trollz" may be more than what they first appear to be. (corporate sockpuppet-identities
protecting vested interests?)

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